5G, Data Communications, IoT: Ericsson's new forecast for mobility in Africa and around the world

(CIO Mag) – in Africa, mobile penetration is 82% (104% worldwide), with 14 million new mobile subscriptionsE quarter 2018. According to the new Ericsson Mobility Report submitted on Wednesday 28 November 2018 via videoconference to journalists in Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal (photo), this increase is partly related to the phenomenon of multiple devices and the number of SIM cards per participant.

From Morocco, however, Nora Wahby, Ericsson West Africa's chief, explained that mobile phone penetration rates in Africa could be revised downwards, taking into account the large number of inactive subscriptions.

Deploying 5G

According to forecasts in the new Ericsson report, 5G is expected to cover more than 40% of the world's population by the end of 2024 and reach 1.5 billion subscribers.

Africa began 5G commercialization with some major service providers. However, "5G subscriptions in visible volume are expected from 2024," said Nora Wahby.

According to the report, "Main levers for 5G deployments include increased network capacity, lower gigabyte costs and new uses."

North America and Northeast Asia should play a leading role in this growth, says the document, adding that 5G will represent 55% of mobile subscriptions in North America by the end of 2024. In Asia Northeast, it will exceed 43%. In Western Europe, 5G is expected to capture approximately 30% of mobile subscriptions in the region by the end of 2024.

According to Ericsson, 90% of mobile subscriptions should be broadband by 2024 in the Middle East and Africa. Two similar markets explain Nora Wahby due to the proximity of consumer habits, especially among the Middle East countries like Turkey and Iran and African countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, South Africa, Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal.

Led by adopting communications goods and services, generalization of mobility in Africa and the Middle East should double the number of smartphone subscriptions, "which would increase the penetration rate from 45% to 70% in 2024," said Ericsson West Africa chief.

This also shows that VoLTE subscriptions will reach nearly $ 1.4 billion by the end of 2018, with operators presenting a wide range of new service usage cases.

Data traffic

In the global mobile data transmission, Ericsson recorded an increase of 79%E quarter 2018 compared to the same period of the previous year.

In Africa and the Middle East, it is assumed that average monthly mobile data traffic will increase from today's 2.9 GB to 15 GB by 2024 with a significant consumption of video services and 5G. According to Nora Wahby, the video tracking time has increased to 60%. The rate should reach 70% in 2024.

In 2024, this traffic will be multiplied by nine, compared to five at the global level, which represents the highest growth rate in the world.

"Africa is a key market, suppliers are interested in expanding their networks in cities," said the head of Ericsson West Africa and said that developments would only be possible if governments believe in LTE's contribution to country development.

Mobile IoT connections

For the Internet of Things or Connected Objects (IoT or IoT), Ericsson's report says IoT cellular Internet transmissions should exceed 4 billion in six years. This is a consequence of the boom in NB-IoT and Cat-M1 technologies.

"Of the 4.1 billion IoT mobile connections planned for 2024, Northeast Asia is expected to focus on 2.7 billion – a figure that reflects both ambition and IoT market size in this area of ​​the world," Ericsson .

The mobility report is based on extensive statistical data from Ericsson's global networks and qualitative studies. It provides an overview of consumer habits and also recognizes trends for the future.